There is a question we hear almost every week: "I want to try diving in Side, but which tour should I choose?" The answer is that in Side the choice is less about picking between different boats and more about picking the right way to join the one experience that matters here: the Side Scuba Diving & Underwater Museum Tour. As Atalay Tours, the local operator who runs it, we would rather help you find the right seat than sell you the wrong one, so here is the same comparison we give guests who call us directly.
The experience everyone is choosing between
First, the shared foundation. The diving day lasts 7 hours and is built around two guided dives from a custom dive boat: a gentle morning dive to 5 to 8 metres lasting 15 to 25 minutes, and an afternoon descent to 12 to 13 metres through the statues and historic exhibits of the famous Side Underwater Museum. Every diver goes down in an intimate group of three to four people with a certified dive master. The price, €45 per adult and €27 per child, with infants joining free, includes two-way hotel transfer in Side, all professional diving equipment and wetsuits, full passenger and diving insurance, comprehensive safety training, a full-day boat cruise and a freshly prepared lunch on board. You reserve for free and pay on the day of the tour.
Within that one day, however, there are four different ways to experience it. Here is who each one suits.
The beginner's introduction: best for first-timers and couples
Absolutely no prior experience is required. Before anyone gets wet, instructors run an easy-to-understand briefing covering underwater hand signals, breathing through the regulator and professional equipment fitting. The morning dive at 5 to 8 metres is deliberately gentle, enough to feel weightless and meet the marine life without feeling out of your depth. Divers who are comfortable then join the afternoon museum dive at 12 to 13 metres, gliding past the sunken sculptures with their instructor and even hand-feeding fish along the way.
This is the right choice for couples looking for a shared first, for anyone who has always been curious about scuba, and for cautious swimmers who want small groups rather than a crowd underwater. If nerves are the main obstacle, our diving FAQ answers the worries we hear most often.
The certified diver's day: best for experienced divers
If you already hold a certification, the same tour works as a relaxed Mediterranean log entry: two guided dives, the Underwater Museum's exhibits at 12 to 13 metres, and official logbook signing and stamping on board to record your dive. Bring your logbook with you.
One caveat: this is a guided recreational day, not a technical expedition. The depths are 5 to 8 and 12 to 13 metres, so if you are chasing deep profiles you should set expectations accordingly. What makes it worth an experienced diver's time is the museum itself: an underwater exhibition you simply cannot see elsewhere on this coast.
The visitor's seat: best for families and non-divers
Not everyone in a family wants to breathe underwater, and the tour is built for that. Guests who prefer to stay near the surface can book as visitors at a reduced rate and enjoy the full-day boat cruise, the onboard lunch, the sun deck and fantastic snorkeling straight from the boat while the divers are below. Children pay €27 as divers, and infants travel free, so a mixed group, one parent diving, one snorkeling with the little ones, is a very normal booking for us. For the exact arithmetic on what a family pays, see our diving prices guide.
The CMAS pathway: best for future divers
If one taster will clearly not be enough, beginners can take their first steps toward international CMAS certification right from our boat. The course fees are not part of the standard ticket — they are available upon request — so mention it when you reserve and we will explain the steps. This suits travelers who suspect diving is about to become their thing and want their Side holiday to count toward it.
Value, side by side
- Adult diver, €45: two guided dives, all equipment and wetsuits, insurance, training, lunch, boat cruise and hotel transfer. Nothing essential costs extra.
- Child diver, €27: the same day at a lower rate.
- Infant, €0: joins the boat free.
- Visitor / snorkeler: reduced rate for the cruise, lunch and snorkeling without the dives.
- Optional extras: CMAS course fees, professional underwater photos and videos, and beverages on the boat are the only things billed separately.
Quick chooser
- Never dived before? Book the standard adult place: the morning dive is your training ground.
- Traveling with someone who won't dive? Ask for a visitor seat alongside your diver ticket.
- Already certified? Bring your logbook for the official stamp.
- Want a certification, not just a taste? Ask about the CMAS course when reserving.
The limits before you book
The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or for guests with severe asthma, heart or respiratory conditions, and it is strictly recommended not to fly within 24 hours after your last dive, so plan it for a day well before your flight home. If, after reading all this, diving is not the right fit for your group at all, our complete local guide to Side excursions lays out every alternative we run.
Whichever seat you choose, the mechanics are the same: reserve free online, pay on the tour day, and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours ahead if plans change. That is the advantage of booking with the operator directly, no middlemen, and no pressure to pick the wrong tour. If the only thing left to settle is when, the season guide works through the calendar.